Experimental Marine Zooplankton Ecology

Welcome!

The working group of Prof. Nicole Aberle-Malzahn focusses on trophodynamic interactions at the primary producer-consumer interface in pelagic food-webs. The main emphasis is on primary (micro- and mesozooplankton e.g. mixo-/heterotroph protists, meroplankton) and secondary consumers (meso-, macro- and megazooplankton e.g. ichthyoplankton, gelatinous zooplankton)

Approaches:

Experiments: To investigate the influence of anthropogenic stress factors on marine organisms and their interactions, experiments are carried out in the field and in the laboratory. Here, micro- and mesocosm appoaches are used to analyse e.g. the impact of climate change and multiple anthropogenic stressors (e.g. eutrophication, plastic pollution, underwater noise) on food web interactions and energy transfer from one trophic level to the next.

Field studies: Population dynamics and diversity of zooplankton communities are assessed along geographical gradients in the open ocean and along the coasts to study differences and changes in zooplankton distribution patterns. This includes studies on unicellular protozooplankton, larval stages of e.g. crustaceans and mollusks, jellyfish and fish larvae.

Research areas in focus:

• Adaptation of microzooplankton communities under future ocean conditions: The adaptive potential, resilience and phenotypic plasticity of global and regional microzooplankton species will be studied by manipulating a variety of biotic and abiotic factors (e.g. feed type, feed quality, presence of predators, temperature, light, CO2) using microcosm approaches.

• The impact of multiple, anthropogenic stressors (e.g. global warming, pollution, oxygen depletion) on plankton food web dynamics. Changes in food quantity/quality, community structure, and biodiversity at the lower food-web level can affect the growth, survival and reproduction of higher trophic levels (e.g. gelatinous zooplankton, fish larvae). Experimental studies and field sampling along geographical gradients in the open and coastal ocean will be used to assess direct and indirect effects of climate change and other anthropogenic stressors on zooplankton communities.

• Carbon cycle and material flows in estuaries: Bentho-pelagic coupling and trophodynamic interactions along a salinity gradient in the tidal Elbe will be analysed to study the effects of global change on carbon flow, bentho-pelagic coupling and changes in food web interactions in the Elbe ecosystem.